Oregon Public Broadcasting

Portland's regional transit agency asked all its drivers Wednesday to think more about safety. As Kristian Foden-Vencil reports, TriMet is also bringing in a safety expert.

The safety drive comes after an accident this weekend -- five pedestrians were hit by a bus and two killed.

Tri-Met general manager, Fred Hansen, says as operators come in for their paychecks, all 1300 will be asked to remember that safety is the agency's number one goal.

Hansen also says an expert from the National Safety Council has been asked to review all Tri-Met's practices.

Fred Hansen: "To be able to determine is there anything that can be approved. Is there anything that another transit agency from across the country is doing that is a best practice that can be learned from. I think our safety programs are very, very good. But I want to make sure that they are informed by the best of any practice anywhere in the states."

Hansen doesn't know how TriMet's safety record compares nationally.

The agency is in the second year of cuts, but Hansen says they have nothing to do with the weekend accident.

Portland Police is conducting an investigation. It doesn't expect to release a report until late next week.